Got Oil? 4-17-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me by the hand and lead me by the heart into this new day. ... "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps" (Matthew 25:1-4). Many have been willing to come out to meet You, Lord, in one form or another. Maybe they've listened to a friend talk about You, picked up a Bible from a hotel room drawer and read a few words about You, or even gone to a church and heard a sermon about You. But how many have ever truly welcomed You into their hearts? How many have truly opened their lives to be emptied of themselves and filled with the oil of Your Spirit? How many came looking for You, willing to have an experience in the moment, to take what came easy, but weren't willing to hold on and press through the times where it seemed like Your presence and Your promises were forever delayed? "And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8). You warned us from the beginning that "the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved" (Matthew 24:12-13). I want enduring hope and persevering faith. I want to be prayed up, poured out, and prepared. I want to "be ready" (v. 24:44). Only "those who are ready" will enter into the fulfillment of our destiny in You (v. 25:10). So keep filling my lamp with Your Oil -- the Oil of Your Spirit that will last through every dark night of the soul and every moment the promise of Your coming seems to tarry. One day I'll see You come in glory. "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him," I'll be watching and waiting with open arms and expectant faith by the grace of Your Spirit who fills my soul (v. 25:31). And before that day, I want to be found faithful, letting the light of Your glory burn brightly in me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, our Messiah Ministries Celebration Dinner is May 2nd to Celebrate Stories of God's glory, Hear Our Calling, and Join Our Vision! Please come and bring some friends who may have a heart for the vision of our ministry -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God." RSVP by 4/25 to Marilyn Walker at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com (reservations required). Please spread the word and God bless you for joining with us to accomplish our calling and fulfill our destiny! Come to the Fountain! this Friday Night 4/18 at 7 pm -- the 3rd Friday Night of every month -- for our ministry's monthly gathering of people from many different churches and streams of the body of Christ across our city for prayer, praise, and healing worship. This month Sandra White of Bethlehem Farm Ministries and I will lead in prayer while Phil Jackson will lead in worship. Hosted in the chapel of Centenary: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY. Please come early for Intercessory Prayer at 6:15. Contact Marilyn at dirofministries@aol.com or 859-422-1794. All are welcome! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/ Daily Archives: http://www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com/

First Responder 4-16-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak Your name, seek Your face, and listen for Your voice. ... "The Lord protects the simple; when I was brought low, He saved me" (Psalm 116:6). My heart was racing when I woke this morning, with vivid images of the closing scene of a bad dream in my mind. By Your grace, that doesn't happen very often. So I began to ask whether this was from You or from the enemy. Sometimes the enemy tries to terrify us and sometimes You show us something terrifying to move us to intercession against it. And either way, I want to know what You would say and show me through this experience no matter what the source. As I prayed, the idea of vulnerability came to mind -- extreme, radical vulnerability. And not that somehow this was something new or that this was a warning of something to come and to prepare. Instead, what comes this morning is a profound sense of just how incredibly vulnerable we are every moment of every day. Apart from You, I simply have no protection at all. Any sense of protection and peace I ever experience is a gift of God from You. Any thought that somehow I can protect myself or my alarm system can protect me or my nation's military can protect me is foolish folly and false pride. You bring me low to the humble place to realize that apart from You, I simply have no protection at all. But I thank You that I am not apart from You. I thank You that I "live in the shelter of the Most High" and "abide in the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1). I can call 9-1-1 anytime I need to -- Psalm 91:1 -- and You will always be my First Responder. In You, I "will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday" (v. 91:5-6). My God is with me; whom then shall I fear? (Psalm 27:1). You never leave me and never forsake me. And the more I realize the simple truth of my complete vulnerability apart from You, my total dependence upon You, the more I can rest in the peace and security of Your presence. "Those who love Me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know My name. When they call to Me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them My salvation" (Palm 91:14-16). No matter what may ever come, nothing can ever take that away from me; nothing can ever take You away from me. As I choose in humility and faith to abide in You and allow You abide in me, nothing "will be able to separate (me) from the love of God in Christ Jesus (my) Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to the Fountain! this Friday Night 4/18 at 7 pm -- the 3rd Friday Night of every month -- for our ministry's monthly gathering of people from many different churches and streams of the body of Christ across our city for prayer, praise, and healing worship. This month Sandra White of Bethlehem Farm Ministries and I will lead in prayer while Phil Jackson will lead in worship. Hosted in the chapel of Centenary: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY. Please come early for Intercessory Prayer at 6:15. Contact Marilyn at dirofministries@aol.com or 859-422-1794. All are welcome! Come to the Mountain this Monday Night 4/21 to Celebrate Passover Seder at 6:30 pm First Southern National Bank Community Room(Corporate Center on Harrodsburg Road)Vicky Welch from "With A Heart For Israel" will be leading. Reservations are necessary as seating is limited.Contact Marilyn Walker with Messiah Ministries: DirOfMinistries@aol.com or Bob and Doris McCray: bndmccray@windstream.net Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Render unto Caesar 4-15-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Come, Holy Spirit. Welcome, my Father God. With every dimension of my being, I embrace every dimension of Your Being into my life this day. ... " 'Show Me the tax money.' So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, 'Whose image and inscription is this?' They said to Him, 'Caesar's.' And He said to them, 'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's' " (Matthew 22:19-21, NKJV). Today is tax day in America, the deadline to file our federal income taxes. Though it's easy to the negative, I choose to see the positive. Though I don't agree with all my government does with all my money, I am grateful for all the amazingly wonderful things my nation is able to do for our citizens and untold millions of people around the world by the gathering and strategic distribution of our tax money. While I repent on behalf of my nation for all the extravagant waste and misuse of our money, I also rejoice in the spirit of compassion and generosity that still lives in the heart of our nation. But also, I believe paying my taxes gives me spiritual authority in this land where I live and work. The seat of governmental authority "invites" me and gives me "permission" to participate in the rights and responsibilities of the government of our nation through paying my taxes. You call me to "seek the welfare of the city (and nation)" where You have sent me and positioned, and to "pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare (I) will find (my) welfare" (Jeremiah 29:7). So I pray over my contributions of taxes and proclaim they be used for the purposes of the kingdom of God, "for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God" (Romans 13:1). As my government willingly receives my money, that gives me all the more authority and responsibility to pray for the stewardship of that money -- money that my God has entrusted to me to use for His glory. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come Celebrate Passover Seder April 21st at 6:30pmFirst Southern National Bank Community Room(Corporate Center on Harrodsburg Road)Vicky Welch from "With A Heart For Israel" will be leading. Reservations are necessary as seating is limited.Contact Marilyn Walker with Messiah Ministries: DirOfMinistries@aol.comor Bob and Doris McCray: bndmccray@windstream.net. Come to The Fountain! this Friday Night -- the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. Phil Jackson will be leading in worship. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

An Excellent Spirit 4-14-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let everything else fall silent, as I sit before You and listen for Your leading. ... "Soon Daniel distinguished himself above all the other presidents and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king planned to appoint him over the whole region" (Daniel 6:3). Lord, Your excellent Spirit is in me and in all who are called by Your name. You have anointed us with the greatness of Your presence. And You desire to accomplish through us Your purposes in the cities and regions where You appoint us. As we grow in Christ and the maturity of Your Spirit grows in us, we will distinguish ourselves from the wisdom and ways of the world. By Your grace, Your excellence in us will abound. We will be salt and light in the marketplace and the public square, as well as our neighborhoods and homes. Together, we will be agents of transformation as we live out our lives day by day because the Agent of transformation lives in us. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Come to the Mountain! every Monday night at 7 pm to pray for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray of our ministry. Hosted in the upstairs community room of First Southern National Bank at 3060 Harrodsburg Rd in Lexington. Contact Doris at bndmccray@windstream.net All are welcome! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

By Cloud and Fire 4-13-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me start this day the right way with my eyes on You alone. ... "For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, before the eyes of all the house of Israel at each stage of their journey" (Exodus 40:38). At each stage of my journey, You are with me -- covering me in the cloud of Your presence, refining me in the fire of Your Spirit, leading me in steps of Your will. Give me eyes to see what You're doing and ears to hear what You're saying. Give me wisdom to recognize the stage of the journey I'm in, the courage to move forward when it's time to arise and go, and the patience to sit and wait when it's time to be still. You have taught me much in the journey thus far. And this much I know for certain -- I don't want to go anywhere that You are not going with me and I don't want to stay anywhere that You are not staying with me. As Moses said, "If Your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here." (Exodus 33:15). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come Celebrate Passover Seder April 21st at 6:30pm First Southern National Bank Community Room (Corporate Center on Harrodsburg Road). Vicky Welch from "With A Heart For Israel" will be leading. Reservations are necessary as seating is limited. Cost of $8.00 for adults, $5.00 for children to cover suppliesand kosher refreshments. Contact Marilyn Walker with Messiah Ministries: DirOfMinistries@aol.com or Bob and Doris McCray: bndmccray@windstream.net Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Glory of God Come Down 4-12-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I open my heart as You open Your heavens and welcome Your presence into my day. ... "O that You would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at Your presence --" (Isaiah 64:1). Let the glory of God come down Let Your mercy and grace abound Open Your heavens I welcome Your presence in me ... As I open my heart to Your heaven, heaven comes down. As I embrace the ways of Your kingdom, Your kingdom comes. As I surrender my will to Your will, Your will is done on earth as it is in heaven. "The kingdom of God is within (us)" (Luke 17:21). You are "the King of heaven" coming to dwell in hearts of Your people and establish Your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven (Daniel 4:27). Your glory comes down and Your grace abounds as we are willing choose to embrace the glory of Your manifest presence in us -- "Christ in (us), the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come Celebrate Passover Seder April 21st at 6:30pm First Southern National Bank Community Room(Corporate Center on Harrodsburg Road) Vicky Welch from "With A Heart For Israel" will be leading. Reservations are necessary as seating is limited. Cost of $8.00 for adults, $5.00 for children to cover suppliesand kosher refreshments.Contact Marilyn Walker with Messiah Ministries: DirOfMinistries@aol.com or Bob and Doris McCray: bndmccray@windstream.net Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/

Into the Arms of the One Who Loves Me So 4-11-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek Your face and welcome Your embrace, my Daddy Abba, Father God. ... O how I love You O how I need You O how I want You to know You are my comfort You are my peace You are the healer of my soul So come now and show me So come now and hold me So come now and make me whole I trust in You I rest in You I fall into the arms of the One who loves me so ... "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in mortals" (Psalm 118:8). "For great is His steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever" (Psalm 117:2). Though human beings fail us, and we fail them, You never fail. You never leave us. You never forsake us. You never harden Your heart to us and refuse to let us in. You never shame us or reject us or mock us. You are faithful and true, worthy of all my faith and all my love. And somehow, in Your enduring mercy and steadfast love, despite all my sin and needs, You keep loving me, keep reaching out to me, keep embracing me to the very degree that I will let You. And I do let You Lord my God, healer of my soul, the One who loves me so. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/

The Boundary Oak 4-10-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill my mind with Your thoughts; fill my heart with Your desires; fill my spirit with Your Spirit. ... "They will called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord to display His glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations" (Isaiah 61:3-4). The "Lincoln Boundary Oak" marks a corner edge of the property of the old Kentucky home where Abraham Lincoln was born. The ancient tree is now felled, but the stump remains. A craftsman from the area has honored many American Presidents with a hand-carved gavel from the oak of this tree that has marked the history of our land. We gathered there to pray righteousness to be restored to our land and devastation of many generations to be cleansed and healed, as You raise up a people who will stand in faith and display Your glory from this land. New life will come forth from the dead stump (Isaiah 11:1). The old things have passed away and all things have become new in You, as You establish the government of Your kingdom in the hearts of Your people. What was dead, but now purified by the fire of Your Spirit will come to life and flourish for Your glory. "Even if a tenth part remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak whose stump remains standing when it is felled. The holy seed is its stump" (Isaiah 6:13). With Your righteousness being restored in our hearts and our land, You are setting new boundaries in our lives and our spheres of influence and authority for the glory of Your name and Your kingdom. And with faith and joy we give out a shout of praise, proclaiming, "The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a godly heritage" (Psalm 16:6). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, many from around the world will be coming to Kentucky over this two year celebration of Lincoln's bicentennial birthday: www.KyLincoln.org We feel we should be returning to this area to continue to pray to cleanse the land through repentance, confession, prayer, and proclamation and release the destiny of this land and people. Please contact us or Linda Whitaker at PrayKentucky@aol.com if you would like to be included. I pray the same for you and the anointing of God upon the people of your land. God bless you! Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Come to the Mountain! every Monday night at 7 pm to pray for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray of our ministry. Hosted in the upstairs community room of First Southern National Bank at 3060 Harrodsburg Rd in Lexington. Contact Doris at bndmccray@windstream.net All are welcome! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

The Great Emancipator 4-9-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father and Son, abide in me through Your Spirit I pray. ... "For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1). Yesterday I joined with other ministry leaders, pastors, and people of prayer from across our state at the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln in Hodgenville, Kentucky. Through this man with such humble beginnings, You proclaimed freedom to the slaves of our nation. From his seat of authority granted by You, President Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation, proclaiming an end to slavery in America, to be enforced by the full authority of the government and power of our nation. Through him and his courageous stand at great cost, You were setting the captives free. Many say You are beginning to release a great anointing of freedom through Your people in this land again. You are the Great Emancipator, the Great Deliverer. You are still binding up the broken-hearted and setting the captives free, proclaiming the coming of the kingdom of God, and enforcing the victory of the cross with all the governmental authority and power of heaven (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18). And You are doing through Your people who are called by Your name and willing to rise and stand firm in the unity of the Spirit with You and one another to break the yoke of slavery (Isaiah 61:3-4; John 20:21). I held a Lincoln penny yesterday, as You led me to pray and proclaim. Three different inscriptions on it seemed significant for us: First are the words "In God We Trust." We must trust in You alone, not in our power or our strength for this move of great deliverance of the people and the land coming to us in these days. Second are the Latin words "E Pluribus Unum" -- "Out of the Many, One." We must come together in the unity of faith, as one body, in one Spirit, under one Head, as one church to accomplish what none can do alone or apart from one another. Third is the word "Liberty." Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty -- freedom to worship You in Spirit and Truth; freedom to pursue You with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength; freedom from the world, the flesh, and the devil to live out our calling and destiny in Your power for Your glory. On one side bears an image of the head of Lincoln and on the other bears an image of the pillars of a monument of government. You are setting Your government of Your kingdom in order. For the government of Your kingdom is being set in order and will increase without end (Isaiah 9:7). Thank You, Lord. From this birthplace of Lincoln, You are birthing a time of great deliverance and a people who are freed to free others in the power of Your Spirit and the authority of Your name. It is for freedom that You have set us free. As a pastor from Hodgenville proclaimed yesterday, Lincoln embraced the anointing that rested upon this land. Let this anointing increase and go forth to touch all the earth, just as You are releasing the anointing of Your presence and power in so many ways in so many lands across the earth in these great and awesome days of the Lord. As You have promised, Your glory will arise upon Your people and cover the earth as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 60:1; Habakkuk 2:14). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, many from around the world will be coming to Kentucky over this two year celebration of Lincoln's bicentennial birthday: www.KyLincoln.org We feel we should be returning to this area to continue to pray to cleanse the land through repentance, confession, prayer, and proclamation and release the destiny of this land and people. Please contact us or Linda Whitaker at PrayKentucky@aol.com if you would like to be included. I pray the same for you and the anointing of God upon the people of your land. God bless you! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Revival Fire through Forgiving Hearts 4-8-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Welcome into my heart; welcome into every moment of my day. ... "Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other, just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful" (Colossian 3:13-15). "I'm sorry; I was wrong; please forgive me; I love you." Those are powerful words if they can be spoken from the heart in forgiveness of one another, releasing hurt, offense, and bitterness to God. And when they are spoken personally and publicly among ourselves in the body of Christ, in an atmosphere of hunger for Your presence and in response to Your conviction, the flames of revival fire are rekindled and fanned into flame. If so, revival began in our hearts this Sunday at the close of our week-end retreat with St. Mark's Church in England. We celebrated Holy Communion together with clean hands and pure hearts, following heart-felt, humble confession to You and to one another. You are binding everything and everyone together "in perfect harmony" through "the peace of Christ" that only comes through speaking the truth in love to one another and being willing to hear the truth in love from one another. We may not always agree, but we can always forgive and choose to move forward in faith and love together. And that is revival -- the transformation of hearts and souls to reveal the heart of Christ in this world. That is the coming of the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. Praise You and thank You, Lord God Almighty! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I made it back home to Kentucky last night from our incredible weekend retreat in England where I was so thrilled to be speaking on the Kingdom of God and then see it come in our hearts in such powerful ways -- "Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17). Thank you for all your prayers with us. May the Kingdom come in every heart and every church. God bless you! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Kingdom of the King of Love 4-6-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. King of the kingdom, come rule and regain in me today. ... "For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself' " (Galatians 5:14). Yes, Lord. Your kingdom is a kingdom of love. We show our love for You by loving one another. We know You are King of our hearts when our hearts are filled with love. Everything is summed up in this simple, single commandment. As You said to Your first disciples long ago, so You continue to say to us each day, "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12). This is commandment of Your kingdom, the kingdom of the King of love living in me. It's just that simple. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Invasion of the Kingdom 4-5-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. My soul arises to seek Your face and listen for Your voice. ... "... But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11). We've come now to the spiritual retreat of Ashburnham in the English countryside near the village of Hastings. St. Mark's Anglican Church brought me over to speak with them during their weekend away on "The Kingdom of God." Here we are near the site of the famous 1066 Battle of Hastings, the last invasion of England that established the reign of the English kings. King of kings and Lord of lords, come invade our hearts. Come establish Your kingdom and reign in our lives. As we willing embrace You as King and surrender to the will of Your kingdom, You wash us in Your blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and sanctify us in the Spirit of our God. You confront us and cleanse us as You overcome us with Your mercy and love. As we are willing to yield to Your Lordship, You purge us of all things that would hinder us from inheriting "the kingdom of God" (v. 6:10). As we begin this day, it seems I hear You say: "You seek Me, allow Me to search you, and I will sanctify you." Yes, Lord. Come, Holy Spirit. Invade our hearts. Empower us to pursue "the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." We want are hungry to see You and Your kingdom come, here in our hearts and here in this land. Invade us this day and every day, Holy Spirit of the Living God, the Spirit of "Christ in (us), the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, sorry to have missed my devotionals for a couple of days due to travel and technical issues. Please cover us in your prayers to encounter God in deep ways. May the Lord invade your life with a fresh wind of His Spirit this day. God bless you! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Repent and Believe 4-2-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is above every name. You are worthy of all my praise. And I worship You this day. ... "Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the good news' " (Mark 1:14-15). Your kingdom is so near, so close at hand. How do we take hold of it? We repent and believe. We turn away from ourselves and turn to You. We quit believing that things will always be the way they are and begin believing in the way You want them to be. We open our eyes to see the potential of all Your promises fulfilled and choose to believe by faith that the time is fulfilled now. You are the King of the kingdom; and You are here. You are at hand, stretching out Your hands to ours, offering the potential of hope with a future, inviting us to join in Your perspective and embrace Your promises. As we do, Your kingdom comes and Your will is done, on earth as it is in heaven. And we move closer to the day of the Lord when the angels declare, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah, and He will reign forever and ever" (Revelation 11:15). By Your grace, I choose to repent and believe in this good news of Your kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Save the Date for May 2 to come join us for our annual Celebration Dinner in Lexington! Details will follow soon. Please let us know if you'd like to help or have some materials to invite others to join us to share our vision and celebrate all God has done this year! Friends, my devotional may come at irregular times the next few days while I travel overnight to London, England and am away teaching at a retreat this weekend. I'll be teaching a series on "The Kingdom of God" for St. Marks Anglican Church's annual weekend away spiritual retreat. Please pray for me to hear and share the Lord's word for His people as we encounter God together. This is the church with such an incredible history where I was able to minister briefly at a women's retreat last year with my good friend Heather Butler from Wales. Your prayer cover makes this kind of ministry possible. God bless you! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

"Strive First for the Kingdom of God" 4-1-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the King of the kingdom of God, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. You are One with the Father and One with the Spirit. And You are One in me through the communion of prayer. ... "But strive first for the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). Teach me how to strive for the kingdom, and at the same time, rest in the King. Teach me how to strive for Your righteousness, and at the same time, trust in Yours alone. I know these are "keys of the kingdom" that You've placed into my hands and want to seal into my heart. Your kingdom does not just passively come, that's why You taught us we have the responsibility to pray for Your kingdom to come (Matthew 6:10). That's why You taught us to strive for the kingdom. It's all by Your grace and according to Your will, but we have a part to play in the sovereignty of Your plan. It seems I hear You say: "My son, to strive for Me and My kingdom is to seek Me with all your heart. Let seeking Me and submitting your will to Mine be your priority and your perspective as best as you can and all by My grace. Then you will have found My kingdom. My kingdom is within you to the very degree you welcome Me as your King." Yes, Lord. Yes, my King. Come in to Your kingdom within me. "The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' For, in fact, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20-21). Trusting in You and resting in You power, I choose by Your grace to strive for Your kingdom and welcome You as my King. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'm excited to be invited on short notice to go to London, England this weekend to teach a series on "The Kingdom of God" for St. Marks Anglican Church's annual weekend away spiritual retreat in the English countryside. Their scheduled speaker fell ill and they've invited me to come stand in. Please pray for me to hear and share the Lord's word for His people as we encounter God together. This is the church with such an incredible history where I was able to minister briefly at a women's retreat last year with my good friend Heather Butler from Wales. Your prayer cover makes this kind of ministry possible. God bless you! Save the Date for May 2 to come join us for our annual Celebration Dinner in Lexington! Details will follow soon. Please let us know if you'd like to help or have some materials to invite others to join us to share our vision and celebrate all God has done this year! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

True Image 3-31-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I seek You and welcome You and embrace You in my spirit, soul, and body. ... "So God created humankind in His image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them" (Genesis 1:27). You created me in Your image. Though that image has been distorted and tainted by sin through the generations and in my life, You have restored me through the blood of Christ and redeemed me in newness of life. Now, every day, You open my eyes to seek Your face and open my heart to receive Your grace. As I look to You and behold Your face, the perfect image of God, I am "being transformed into that same image from one degree of glory to another" (2 Corinthians 3:18). You want me to see myself as I am, not as I was. You me to see myself created in Your image, not distorted by sin. "Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when He is revealed, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. And all who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:2-3). With a trusting faith and repentant heart, You "cleanse (me) from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). As I continually turn to You, You continually remind me that I have become "the righteousness of God" in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). As I see You more as You are, I begin to see myself more as I am. Though I am forever in need of Your grace to forgive me of sin and restore me to the image You have of me, at the same time, right now, I have the fullness of Your grace. I am forgiven and free, accepted and loved, holy and pure through the blood of the Lamb. This is my true identity and the true image You have of me. Help me see myself, throughout this day and throughout my life, as You see me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

"Seek Me with All Your Heart" 3-30-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Awaken me and arise within me. ... "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon Me and come and pray to Me, I will hear you. When you search for Me, you will find Me; if you seek Me with all your heart, I will let you find Me, says the Lord ..." (Jeremiah 29:11-14). I hear the longing in Your heart for me to seek You with my heart -- with all my heart. Forgive me when I have not sought You; and forgive me when I have not sought You with all my heart. You gave Yourself completely for me; and You long for me to give myself completely to You. Increase my sensitivity to Your longing. You are God; You are all powerful; You hold all the world in Your hands. And yet, You long for my love. You long to see my face seeking Your face in prayer. As You said to Your people long ago, so You say to Your people of every age: "I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask, to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, 'Here I am, here I am,' to a nation that did not call on My name" (Isaiah 65:1). Here I am, Lord. I have heard Your call and sensed the longing in Your heart. By Your grace, I will seek You with all my heart. I will call upon Your name. I will come to You and spend time with You in prayer. And I ask You, out of love for You, to not let me forget the longing I sense in Your heart this day. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'll be speaking on prayer at my home church in Lexington today. Please keep us in prayer as we grow to become the house of prayer we are called to be. And I pray the same for your church. Thank you for all your prayers for my twelve year old daughter Maddie and me for our adventure in California last week. I wouldn't trade our special time together for anything in the world! God bless you and thank you for joining me in the journey of prayer. Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

"Teach Them to Your Children" 3-28-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I look to You and listen for Your leading. ... "You shall put these words of Mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem on your forehead. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you arise. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gate, so that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the Lord swore to your ancestors to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth" (Deuteronomy 11:18-21). Lord, let me teach Your words to my children by living them out with integrity before them. Let them see me desperately dependent upon You, rising to pray and living the prayer throughout the moments of my day. When I fail, let them see humility and repentance, as they learn how to seek and receive mercy. When I succeed, let them see celebration and honor for the life of God within me. When I'm saddened, let them see me seek Your comfort; and when I'm filled with joy, let them see Your joy is my strength. May my days and theirs be multiplied in the places and promises You've given us to possess together. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Legacy of Love 3-26-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. At Your name, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that You are Lord. On my knees in prayer and with my tongue in praise, I declare You are my Lord in every area of my life and every moment of my day. ... "And Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, for you have wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God' " (Joshua 14:9). I want all my children to know You and to follow You wholeheartedly -- without hesitation, without limitation, without reservation. And I want them to see I know You and follow that way. And may they go everywhere I have gone and farther. May they receive a full inheritance and add it to and pass on the legacy of loving You and following You wholeheartedly to their children and their children's children throughout all generations. Thank You for the legacy of love You've given me, but let that only be the beginning point for each succeeding generation. "In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of Him who accomplishes all things according to His counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:11-12). Before You and before my children, let me live for the praise of Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Pastoring Kids in Revival 3-26-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let the focus of my thoughts now turn to You alone. ... "Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy wearing a linen ephod.... And the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord" (1 Samuel 2:18-21). This morning, Maddie and I will join others from around the world for equipping and encouragement at our leadership conference called "Pastoring Kids in Revival." You are pouring out Your Spirit in the hearts of our kids to minister before You with purity and passion. I know I have much to learn and to listen to what Your Spirit is saying to Your church in this hour about raising up and releasing our young people to step into their places of ministry with the calling and gifts You've given them. Teach me how to facilitate that with wisdom, courage, and sensitivity in the settings where You send me to minister before You. Let my generation not hinder their generation, but let the children come freely and boldly into Your presence to find and live out their purpose in You. As You "sternly" commanded Your first disciples, "Let the little children come to Me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs" (Mark 10:14). Not only should we not hinder them, we should learn all we can from them. "Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it" (v. 10:15). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Humbled by the Enormity of Creation 3-25-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and lift up Your praise. ... "A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever" (Ecclesiastes 1:4). My daughter Maddie and I spent the day exploring the northern California coast yesterday. We saw giant redwood trees stretching up to the heavens. We saw massive waves of the sea crashing against the beautifully jagged rocks and cliffs of the shore. We saw herds of wild elk lumbering along the grassy fields. And all of these marvelous wonders of Your creation have remained and endured for untold centuries. Generations of visitors like us have come and gone to behold their beauty, yet they remain. In light of the enormity and longevity of Your creation, I am humbled by the sense of my own limitations of time and space, the fleeting opportunities I'm granted for my earthly life among Your immense creation to make a difference and fulfill my destiny. In the end, "our years come to an end like a sigh" (Psalm 90:9). So help me use the time I have and give it to the things that are important. But no matter what I do or fail to do in the time I have and in the places I go, keep reminding me of who I am in You. "Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God" (v. 90:1). Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org